Money-handling devices



Oct. 25, 1966 G. F. ERICKSON MONEY-HANDLING DEVICES 11 Sheets-Sheet 1Original Filed Sept. 20, 1962 w ww 3 IIIILI IIILI N N O\ 0% v w? mm-INVENTOR.

Gus TAV F ERIC/(SON ATTORNEY Oct. 25, 1966 s. F. ERICKSON MONEY-HANDLINGDEVICES 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Sept. 20, 1962 ATTORNE).

Oct. 25, 1966 e. F. ERICKSON MONEY-HANDLING DEVICES 11 Sheets-Sheet 5Original Filed Sept. 20, 1962 BYGUSTAI/ F. ER/CKSON A T TORNEK Oct. 25,1966 G. F. ERICKSON 3,280,827

MONEY-HANDLING DEVICES Original Filed Sept. 20, 1962 11 Sheets-Sheet 4INVENTOR.

GUSTAV F. ER/CKSON A 7' TORNEK Oct. 25, 1966 ERICKSON 3,280,827

MONEY-HANDLING DEVICES Original Filed Sept. 20, 1962 11 SheetS Sheet 36$0 34 3 F/G. /3. M

INVENTOR.

GUSTAV F. ERIC/(SON BY A T TORNEL Oct. 25, 1966 e. F. ERICKSON 3,280,827

MONEY-HANDLING DEVICES Original Filed Sept. 20, 1962 ll Sheets-Sheet 7INVENTOR.

GUSTAV F ERIC/(SON BY A T TORNEK Oct. 25, 1966 G. F. ERICKSON 3,

MONEY-HANDL ING DEVI CES Original Filed Sept. 20, 1962 ll Sheets-Sheet 9360 y N 386 2 70 2382 V INVENTOR Gus TA v F. ER/CKSO/V Oct. 25, 1966 G.F. ERICKSON 3,230,827

MONEY-HANDLING DEVICES Original Filed Sept. 20, 1962 ll heetsh t lINVENTOR.

GL/s TAV F E RIC/(SON A TTORNEK United States Patent 3,280,827MONEY-HANDLING DEVICES Gustav F. Erickson, Kirkwood, Mo., assignor toNational Rejectors, Inc., St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of MissouriContinuation of application Ser. No. 225,027, Sept. 20,

1962. This application June 11, 1965, Ser. No. 467,813 46 Claims. (Cl.133-4) This invention relates to improvements in Money-Handling Devices.More particularly, this invention relates to improvements incoin-dispensing devices, and is a continuation of application Serial No.225,027, filed September 20, 1962 now abandoned.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide animproved coin-dispensing device.

Coin-dispensing devices customarily hold coins in vertically-directedtubes and use coin ejectors adjacent the outlets of those tubes todispense the desired coins. Where the coin-dispensing devices will,during the operation thereof, receive coins that are inserted by patronsand that can replace the coins dispensed by those devices, thecoin-holding capacities of those coin-dispensing devices do not have tobe very large. However, where a coindispensing device will not, duringthe operation thereof,

receive coins that are inserted by patrons and that can replace thecoins dispensed by that device, the coin-holding capacity of that devicemust be very large. In application Serial No. 35,504 of Francis T.Vaccaro, Jerome Buddenbaum and myself for Coin Separators which wasfiled on June 13, 19 60, and which became Patent No. 3,138,165,elongated tubes were used to provide the required large coin-holdingcapacity. Such elongated tubes are quite usable; but it. is not alwayscommercially desirable or practical to design money-actuated devices sothey have tall spaces therein to accommodate such elongated tubes.Consequently, it would be desirable to provide a coin-dispensing devicewhich used a short tube but which had a large coin-holding capacity. Thepresent invention provides such a coin-dispensing device; and it does soby mounting a coin-holding hopper adjacent the tube and by re'currentlytransferring coins from that hopper to that tube. It is, therefore, anobject of the present invention to provide a coin-dispensing devicewhich has a short tube and which has a coin-holding hopper adjacent thattube, and which recurrently transfers coins from that hopper to thattube.

The present invention makes .it possible to transfer coins from thehopper to the tube at a rate which is' at least as great as the rate atwhich that tube dispenses coins. Such an arrangement is very desirablebecause .it makes the use of a very short tube quite practical. It is,therefore, an object of the present invention to provide acoin-dispensing device which has a hopper and a tube and which transferscoins from that hopper to that tube at a rate which is at least as greatas the rate at which that tube dispenses coins.

The hopper of the coin-dispensing device provided by the presentinvention can receive coins of random-orientation; and thatcoin-dispensing device can thereafter cause those coins to assume adesired orientation as they enter and come torest within the tube ofthat-device. The coindispensing device provided by the present inventionorients the coins with minimal Wearing of the surfaces of those coins,and thereby avoids injury to those coins and also avoids the formationof metal dust that could interfere with proper operation of thatcoin-dispensing device. It is, therefore, an object of the presentinventionto provide a coin-dispensing device which has a hopper that canreceive coins of random orientation, which can thereafter cause thosecoins to assume a proper orientation 3,280,827 Patented Oct. 25, 1966"ice as they enter and come to rest within the tube of that de' vice,and which can orient those coins with minimal wearing of the surfaces ofthose coins.

The hopper of the coin-dispensing device provided by the presentinvention has an endless belt which serves as a portion of the bottom ofthat hopper; and the upper face of that belt can be caused to movetoward the tube of the coin-dispensing device. In serving as a portionof the bottom of the hopper, the belt underlies and helps support thecoins; and, in having the upper facethereo-f move toward the tube, thatbelt helps transfer coins from the hopper to the tube. The belt of thecoin-dispensing device provided by the present invention thus performs adual function. Further, in performing that dual function, that beltobviates any inefiiciencies and any errors of operation which couldarise if the coins were supported on one member and moved toward thetube by a separate and additional member. It is, therefore, an object ofthe present invention to provide a hopper with an endless belt whichserves as a portion of the bottom of that hopper and which has the upperface thereof movable toward the tube of that device.

The hopper of the coin-dispensing device provided by the presentinvention has a gate with an edge that is spaced from the upper face ofthe belt a distance greater than the thicknesses of the coins heldwithin that hopper but that is spaced from that belt a distance lessthan twice the thicknesses of those coins; Further, that gate is mountedadjacent the outlet-end of the hopper so coins passing from thathopper'to the coin tube must pass under the edge of that gate. I so itwill move rather than permit coins to jam against it; but that gate willbe sufficiently resistant to moving,

to hold back coins that are superimposed on other coins. As a result,that gate will usually permit just the lowermost coin of a group ofsuperimposed coins to pass to the tube of the coin-dispensing device. Itis, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide the hopperof a coin-dispensing device with a gate that isspace'd from the belt ofthat hopper and that can intercept coins which are superimposeduponother coins and that can hold back those superimposed coins whilepermitting those other coins to pass to the tube.

The hopper of the" coin-dispensing device provided by the presentinvention has a second gate that is generally similar to the first gate.That second gate is disposed between the first gate and the tube; andif, somehow, some.

superimposed coins manage to pass under the edge of the first gate, theedge of the second gate will intercept and hold back these superimposedcoins. This means that the first gate will provide the initialresistance to the movement of superimposed-coins and that the secondgate will provide the final" resistance to the movement ofsuperimposed-coins. It is, therefore, an object of the present inventionto providetwo gates adjacent a hopper and tomount those gates so theyare in tandem.

A funnel is provided for the tube of the coin-dispensing device of thepresent invention; and that funnel has an entrance which is wide enoughto accommodateall coins that are moved'toward'the tube by the belt. Thatfunnel has two vertically-spaced and horizontally-displ aced coinguidingsurfaces; and these surfaces are intended to re-- ceive coinswhich'leave the belt and enter the funnel in side-by-sid'e relation,and'are also intended to guide those coins into the tube. Because thosecoin-guiding surfaces are disposed at different levels, one of thosecoin-guiding surfaceswill intercept and momentarily hold one of thoseside-by-side coins before the other of those coin-guiding surfacesintercepts the other of those side-by-side coins. The interception andmomentary holding of that one coin will enable the other coin-guidingsurface to start the other In addition, that gate is mounted coin intothe tube before that one coin reaches the entrance to that tube. In thisway, that funnel avoids any tendency of side-by-side coins to bridge inposition above the upper end of the tube. It is, therefore, an object ofthe present invention to provide a funnel, for the tube of acoin-dispensing device, with two coin-guiding surfaces that arevertically spaced and are horizontally-displaced to cause side-by-sidecoins to pass consecutively into that tube without bridging in positionabove the upper end of that tube.

The coins within the hopper of the coin-dispensing de vice of thepresent invention tend to assume positions wherein the frictional forcesbetween themselves and the belt of that hopper are minimal. It would beundesirable to permit those coins to assume positions wherein thefrictional forces between themselves and that belt were so small thatthe belt would move but the coins would not. To keep the coins fromassuming such positions, the present invention provides eccentrics whichare mounted beneath the upper surface of the belt and which periodicallyforce portions of the belt upwardly to force some of the coins to moveupwardly. This periodic raising of portions of the belt and of some ofthe coins tends to cause the coins to move around within the hopper andto assume positions wherein the frictional forces between those coinsand the belt are suflicient to assure movement of the coins with thebelt. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provideeccentrics that periodically force portions of the belt in a coin hopperto move upwardly and thereby force some of the coins within that hopperto move upwardly.

The present invention also provides a member that periodically appliessharp blows to the belt to impart sharp blows to the coins resting onthat belt. That member is dimensioned so it applies those sharp blows atjust one edge of the belt; and that is important because those blows canbe suflicient to force coins on that one edge of the belt to roll backtoward the bottom of the hopper, when that hopper is almost empty.However, by restricting the blows to just one edge of the belt, thepresent invention permits coins to move uninterruptedly along theoppOsite edge of that belt and thus to the tube. It is, therefore, anobject of the present invention to provide a member which periodicallyapplies sharp blows to just one edge of the belt in a hopper of acoin-dispensing device.

The present invention also provides a member which extends into thehopper to apply sharp blows directly to the coins within that hopper.Those blows will force some of the coins to move around within thathopper, and will thereby keep those coins from settling in positionswhich enable those coins to have minimal frictional forces betweenthemselves and the belt. The blows applied by that member can be sosharp that coins could tend to be thrown up onto the belt adjacent oneof the gates. To prevent coins from being so thrown, aresiliently-mounted rod is disposed in the path of coins which couldotherwise be so thrown. That rod is spaced :far enough from the belt soit .will not cause a jam, and the resilient mounting of that rod willabsorb much of the momentum of the coins thrown toward that rod. It is,therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a member whichcan extend into the hopper of a coin-dispensing device to apply sharpblows to the coins within that hopper, and to provide aresiliently-mounted rod within that hopper which can intercept coinsthat might otherwise be thrown onto the forward end of the belt by thosesharp blows.

When coins are repeatedly moved relative to each other, those coins canabrade each other; and any such abrading is undesirable. Hence it wouldbe desirable to avoid all needless relative movement of the coins in thehopper. The present invention avoids all needless relative movement ofthe coins in the hopper by moving those coins only when the level ofcoins in the tube has fallen below a predetermined value. Furthermore,all movement of the coins will be stopped when the level of the coins inthe tube has again attained that value. As a result, very little or noabrading of coins within the hopper will be experienced. It is,therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a hopper whichmoves the coins therein only when the level of the coins in the tubeassociated with that hopper falls below a predetermined value.

The hopper provided by the present invention is mounted so it can berotated to a raised position; and, in that raised position, that hoppercan release the coins held therein. Those coins will slide along theupper surface of the belt and between that surface and the edges of thegates to a suitable receptacle which can be set under the end of thebelt. Such a mounting of the hopper facilitates easy and rapid emptyingof the hopper whenever the amount of money in that hopper is to bechecked. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to mountthe hopper of a coin-dispensing device so it can be rotated to a raisedposition wherein it can release the coins held therein.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention shouldbecome apparent from an examination of the drawing and accompanyingdescription.

In the drawing and accompanying description, two preferred embodimentsof the present invention are shown and described but it is to beunderstood that the drawing and accompanying description are for thepurpose of illustration only and do not limit the invention and that theinvention will be defined by the appended claims.

FIGURE 1 is a partially broken-away, front elevational view of oneembodiment of money-handling device that is made in accordance with theprinciples and teachings of the present invention,

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of the right-hand side of themoney-handling device of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of the left-hand side of themoney-handling device of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 4 is a partially broken-away, front elevational view, on a largerscale, of a portion of the moneyhandling device of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view, on the scale of FIG- URE 4, of a leverthat is used in the money-handling device of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view, on the scale of FIG- URE 4, of a furtherlever that is used in the moneyhandling device of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view, on the scale of FIG- URE 4 of the emptyfeeler that is used in the moneyhandling device of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 8 is a perspective View, on the scale of FIG- URE 4, of a tapperthat is used in the money-handling device of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 9 is a partially broken-away, sectional view of the portion ofthe money-handling device shown in FIGURE 4, and it is taken along thebroken plane indicated by the broken line 9-9 in FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view through the portion of the money-handlingdevice shown in FIGURE 4, and it is taken along the plane indicated bythe line 10-10 in FIGURE 4,

FIGURE 11 is a sectional view through the lower part of the portion ofthe money-handling device shown in FIGURE 4, and it is taken along theplane indicated by the line 11-11 in FIGURE 4,

FIGURE 12 is another sectional view through the lower part of theportion of the money-handling device shown in FIGURE 4, and it is takenalong the plane indicated by the line 12-12 in FIGURE 4,

FIGURE 13 isstill another sectional view through thelower part of theportion of the money-handling device shown in FIGURE 4, and it is takenalong the plane indicated by the line 13-13 in FIGURE 4,

FIGURE 14 is a sectional view through the moneyhandling device of FIGURE1, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 14-14 in FIGURE2,

FIGURE is a sectional view through the portion of the money-handlingdevice shown in FIGURE 3, and it is taken along the plane indicated bythe line 15-15 in FIGURE 3,

FIGURE 16 is a sectional view in plan, on the scale of FIGURE 15,through the portion of the moneyhandling device shown in FIGURE 3, andit is taken along the plane indicated by the line 1616 in FIG- URE 3,

FIGURE 17 is a sectional view, on the scale of FIG- URE l5, and it istaken along the plane indicated by the line 1717 in FIGURE 16,

FIGURE 18 is a sectional view through the portion of the money-handlingdevice shown in FIGURE 3, and it is taken along the plane indicated bythe line 1818 in FIGURE 3,

FIGURE 19 is a sectional view through the portion of the money-handlingdevice shown in FIGURE 2, and it is taken along the plane indicated bythe line 19-19 in FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 20 is a sectional view of one of the coinejecting cams ofmoney-handling device of FIGURE 1, and it is taken along the planeindicated by the line 20- 20 in FIGURE 14,

FIGURE 21 is an elevational view of the left-hand side of one of thelobe-forming plates of the cam of FIGURE 20,

FIGURE 22 is a front elevational view of the lobeforming plate of FIGURE21,

FIGURE 23 is a sectional view through one of the funnels of themoney-handling device of FIGURE 1, and it is taken along the brokenplane indicated by the broken line 23-23 in FIGURE 9,

FIGURE 24 is a fragmentary view which is similar to FIGURE 3, and itshow the normal position of the hopper of FIGURE 3 by solid lines andshows the rotated position of that hopper by dotted lines,

FIGURE 25 is a circuit diagram of the money-handling device of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 26 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of thecoin-dispensing portion of a modified form of money-handling device thatis made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the presentinvention, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 2626 inFIGURE 4,

FIGURE 27 is a bottom View of a part of the coindispensing portion shownin FIGURE 26.

FIGURE 28 is an elevational view of part of the lefthand end of themodified form of money-handling device of FIGURE 26,

FIGURE 29 is a rear elevational view of the part, of the left-hand endof the modified form of money-handling device, which is shown in FIGURE28, and

FIGURE 30 is a circuit diagram of the modified form of money-handlingdevice of FIGURE 26.

Referring to FIGURES l-25 in detail, the numeral 31 denotes the base ofone embodiment of moneyhandling device that is made in accordance withthe principles and teachings of the present invention. That base iselongated; and it has downwardly-directed flanges at the front and rearedges thereof. As a result, the base 31 has the configuration of ashallow channel, as indicated particularly by FIGURES 2 and 3. Threearcuate notches 32 are formed in the web of the base 31 adjacent thefront edge of that base, and one of those notches is shown in FIGURE 9.Three generally rectangular notches 34 are formed in the front flange ofthe base 31 adjacent the arcuate notches 32; and all of thoserectangular notches are shown in elevation in FIGURE 1 while one ofthose rectangular notches is shown in plan by FIGURE 9. Short, widenotches 35 extend rearwardly from the notches 32 to accommodate bentcoins with convex lower faces, thereby facilitating the dispensing ofsuch coins. The base 31 has three elongated slots 36 which are spacedrearwardly of, and

which are aligned with, the notches 35. The slots 36 start adjacent therear edge of the base 31 and extend forwardly toward the notches 35; butthose slots have lengths which are just greater than about one-half ofthe width of that base. Headed pins 38 are fixedly secured to the base31, and the heads of those pins are spaced short distances above theupper surface of that base.

The numeral 40 denotes three vertically-directed brackets which havefeet at the bottoms thereof; and fasteners, shown as screws, securethose feet to the base 31. The feet of the brackets 40 all extend to theleft in FIGURE 1. Three generally similar brackets 42 have feet at thebottoms thereof; and fasteners, shown as screws, secure those feet tothe base 31. Those feet all extend to the right in FIGURE 1. Thebrackets 40 and 42 are paired; and the feet of each pair of brackets 40and 42 extend away from each other. Openings 44 are formed in thebrackets 40 and 42, and those openings have vertically-directed sidesand have plano-concave tops. Small-diameter openings are provided in thebrackets 40 and 42; and bushings 46 are disposed in the smalldiameteropenings in the brackets 40, while bushings 48 are disposed in thesmall-diameter openings in the brackets 42. The bushings 46 and 48 haveradially-extending flanges at the inner ends thereof, as shownparticularly by FIGURE 9; and those flanges abut the inner faces of theopposite walls of coin-receiving hoppers. Three coin-receiving hoppersare provided for the moneyhandling device shown in FIGURE 1, and theleft-hand hopper is generally denoted by the numeral 50 while theright-hand hopper is generally denoted by the numeral 154. The bushings46 and 48 serve as pivots for the hoppers; and hence those hoppers canbe rotated from their normal horizontal positions to rotated positions.The normal position of the hopper 154 is shown by solid lines, and therotated position of that hopper is shown by dotted lines, in FIGURE 24.

The three hoppers will preferably be identical, because such hoppers canbe manufactured easily and with minimal cost. Each hopper has aninclined bottom wall 52 with downwardly-extending flanges at theelongated edges thereof. Those flanges abut the inner faces of the sidewalls of the hopper and are suitably secured to those side walls. Theinclined bottom wall 52 has its lowermost end spaced a short distancefrom the bottom of the hopper, and has that lowermost end adjacent thelongitudinal center of the hopper. That inclined bottom wall has theuppermost end thereof abutting the rear of the hopper; and, as shown byFIGURES 2 and 3, the inclined bottom wall 52 can extend upwardly andconstitute the closure for the rear of the hopper. Each hopper also hasan inclined bottom wall 54, with downwardly-extending flanges at theelongated edges thereof. Those flanges abut the inner faces of the sidewalls of the hopper and are suitably secured to those side walls. Thelowermost end of the inclined bottom wall 54 is spaced a short distanceforwardly of, and a short distance above the level of, the lowermost endof the inclined bottom wall 52, all as shown by FIGURES 2 and 3. Theuppermost end of the inclined bottom wall 54 terminates a short distancerearwardly of, and a short distance above the level of, the bushings 46'and 48, as shown particularly by FIGURE 2.

A rectangular opening 56 is provided in the inclined bottom wall 52, asshown particularly by FIGURE 16; and that opening is adjacent thelowermost end of that inclined bottom wall while also being adjacent oneof the side walls of the hopper. As shown by FIGURE 3, a rectangularopening 58 is provided in the said one wall of the hopper, and theopenings 56 and 58 are immediately adjacent each other. A pivot 60, witha radially-extending head thereon, is secured to the said one wall ofthe hopper at a point which is disposed rearwardly of the opening 58;and that pivot rotatably supports an agitator which is generally denotedby the numeral 62. That agitator is disposed immediately adjacent theouter face of the said one wall of the hopper, and it has an car 64which extends away from that wall. The agitator 62 also has an ear 66which extends inwardly through the opening 58 in the said one wall ofthe hopper; and that car has a reduced-width upper portion whichprojects upwardly through the opening 56 in the inclined bottom wall 52.As a result, the reduced-width portion of the ear 66 on the agitator 62can extend above the plane defined by the upper face of the inclinedbottom wall 52.

The numeral 68 denotes a bracket which is generally L-shaped in crosssection and which has one arm thereof secured to the outer face of thesaid one wall of the hopper while having the other arm thereofprojecting outwardly from that wall. An elongated leaf spring 70 issuitably secured to the outwardly-projecting arm of the bracket 68; andthat leaf spring is held parallel to the said one wall of the hopper.The center of gravity of the agitator 62 is disposed to the right of thepivot 60, as that agitator is viewed in FIGURE 3; and hence thatagitator tends to rotate in the clockwise direction in FIGURE 3.However, the leaf spring 70 overlies the ear 64 on the agitator 6'2 andnormally limits rotation of that agitator in the clockwise direction inFIGURE 3. The leaf spring 70 can be bowed from the solid-line to thedotted-line position shown in FIGURE 3, and it will then permit theagitator 62 to rotate a short distance in the clockwise direction. Also,the leaf spring 70' can bow downwardly from the solid-line positionshown in FIGURE 3 to a lower position; and, when that spring so bows, itwill force the agitator 62 to rotate in the counter clockwise direction.

The numeral 72 denotes a rectangular opening which is provided in theinclined bottom wall 54 adjacent the uppermost end of that bottom wall;and that opening is located about midway between the side walls of thehopper. A second rectangular opening 74 is provided in the inclinedbottom wall 54, and that opening is spaced rearwardly of the opening 72.The opening 74 also is spaced approximately midway between the sidewalls of the hopper. A rectangular opening 73 is formed in the inclinedbottom wall 54; and that opening is spaced rearwardly of the opening 72while being spaced forwardly of the opening 74. The opening 73 isimmediately adjacent the said one wall of the hopper on which theagitator 62 is rotatably mounted.

The numeral 76 denotes a pivot which is supported by thedownwardly-extending flanges at the elongated edges of the inclinedbottom wall 54; and that pivot rotatably supports an eccentric roller80. The pivot 76 is disposed below the plane defined by the bottom faceof the inclined bottom wall 54, but it is close enough to that plane topermit the eccentric roller 80 to extend through the opening 72, asshown particularly by FIGURE 10. A pivot 78 extends between thedownwardly-extending flanges at the elongated edges of the inclinedbottom wall 54; and that pivot rotatably supports an eccentric roller82. The pivot 78 is disposed below the plane defined by the bottom faceof the inclined bottom wall 54, but it is close enough to that plane toenable the eccentric roller 82 to extend through the opening 74, asshown particularly by FIGURE 10. The low portions of the eccentricrollers 80 and 82 will preferably project upwardly above the plane ofthe upper face of the inclined bottom wall 54 whenever those rollers arein the solid-line position of roller 80 in FIG- URE The numeral 84denotes an L-shaped bracket which has the lower arm thereof secured tothe said one wall of the hopper on which the bracket 68 is mounted. Thebracket 84 has the upper arm thereof projecting outwardly from the saidone wall of the hopper. An elongated leaf spring 86 is secured to theoutwardly extending arm of the bracket 84 by suitable fasteners, andthat leaf spring extends rearwardly and downwardly from that arm of thatbracket.

The numeral 88 denotes bushings which are mounted within small-diameteropenings in the side walls of the hopper, and those bushings are shownparticularly by FIGURE 15. Those bushings rotatably support shaftlikeprojections which extend outwardly from the opposite ends of a pulley90, as shown by FIGURE 15. A rectangular opening 92 is provided in thesaid one side wall of the hopper, and that opening is immediatelyadjacent the opening 73 in the inclined bottom wall 54 of the hopper. Anelongated lever is generally denoted by the numeral 94, and that leveris rotatably supported by one of the bushings 88. That lever is disposedimmediately adjacent 'the outer face of the said one wall of the hopper,and it extends upwardly and forwardly from the bushing 88 whichrotatably supports it. That lever has an ear 96 at the bottom edgethereof, at a point about midway of the length of that lever, and thatcar extends away from the said one wall of the hopper. An ear 980m thelever 94 underlies the opening 73 in the inclined bottom wall 54 of thehopper, and that ear is spaced from the rest of the lever 94 by anoffset 100. That offset is shown particularly by FIGURE 18; and itextends through the opening 92 and holds the ear 98 in vertical registrywith the opening 73. The offset 100 is dimensioned so the lever 94 canbe rotated short distances relative-to the opening 92 in the said onewall of the hopper. The lever 94 will respond to gravity to tend torotate in the clockwise direction in FIGURE 3, but the ear 96 of thatlever will engage the elongated leaf spring 86 and normally hold thelever 94 in the position shown by FIG- URE 3.

If the leaf spring 86 is bowed down to the dottedline position of FIGURE3, the lever 94 will be free to rotate downwardly in the clockwisedirection. However, when that spring moves back from the dotted-lineposition to the solid-line position in FIGURE 3, the lever 94 will beforced back up into solid-line position shown in FIGURE 3.

The numeral 102 denotes a crank arm which has the hub thereof telescopedover one of the shaft-like projections of the pulley 90'. That hub canbe suitably secured to that shaft-like portion by a set screw, as shownparticularly by FIGURE 15. The crank arm 102 has a roller 104 which isrotatably supported by a pin carried by that arm; and that roller isheld in register with the free ends of the elongated leaf springs 86 and70. Consequently, when the crank arm 102 is rotated in the clockwisedirection in FIGURE 3, it will move the free end of the leaf spring fromthe solid-line position to the dotted-line position in FIGURE 3 and thenrelease that free end. Subsequently, that crank arm will move the freeend of the leaf spring 86 from the solidline position to the dotted-lineposition in FIGURE 3, and then release that free end.

The numeral 106 denotes a pulley with shaft-like extensions which arejournaled in the bushings 46 and 48, as indicated particularly by FIGURE9. The ends of that pulley are recessed to accommodate the flanges onthose bushings; so those ends can be disposed immediately adjacent theinner faces of the side walls of the hopper. Preferably the surface ofthe pulley 106 is scored or knurled to provide a high coeflicient offriction with a flexible, endless belt 108. That belt is wide, and theelongated edges thereof will be immediately adjacent the inner faces ofthe side walls of the hopper. That belt will extend around the pulleys90 and 106 and will also overlie and engage the eccentric rollers and82.

Short slots 1110 are formed in the leading edges of the side walls ofthe hopper; and those slots are disposed rearwardly of, and below thelevel of, the bushings 46 and 48, as shown particularly by FIGURE 10.Pins 112 are secured to the side walls of the hopper at points inregister with the axes of the slots 110, and those pins are disposedrearwardly of, and above the level of, those slots. An idler pulley 114has pivotlike projections extending outwardly therefrom, and thoseprojections are disposed within the slots 110. Helical extension springs1 16 have the upper ends thereof hooked around the pins 112 and have thelower ends thereof hooked around the pivot-like projections on thepulley 114. Those springs urge the pulley 114 upwardly and to the rightin FIGURE 10, and thus cause it to tension the belt 108. As a result,the inner face of that belt is held in non-slipping engagement with thepulleys 90 and 106; and that inner face also is held in intimateengagement with the peripheries of the eccentric rollers 80 and 82.

The numeral 118 denotes slots in the side walls of the hopper and thoseslots are located directly above the outwardly-projected shaft-likeportions of the pulley 90, as shown by FIGURE 3. Pins 120 are securedto, and extend outwardly from, the side walls of the hopper; and thosepins are directly below the slots 118. An elongated rod 122 extendsbetween the side walls of the hopper and lodges within the slots 118 inthose side walls. Those slots are large enough to permit free verticalmovement of the rod 122 relative to the hopper. Helical extensionsprings 124 have the upper ends thereof hooked around the opposite endsof the rod 122 and have the lower ends thereof hooked around the pins120. Those springs urge the ends of that rod downwardly toward the lowerends of the slots 118 but can yield to permit those ends of that rod tomove upwardly.

Bars 126 are formed adjacent the top edge of the said one wall of thehopper which supports the brackets 68 and 84; and those ears haveopenings therein. A generally flat cover 128 has pivot-like eXtensiOnsat the opposite ends thereof, and those extensions are disposed withinthe openings in the ears 126. Those extensions coact with those ears toserve as a hinge for the cover 128. The portion of the cover 128 whichis adjacent the ears 126 inclines downwardly relative to the plane ofthat cover, as shown by FIGURE 4. That portion of that cover willrespond to rotation of that cover to engage the said one wall of thehopper and thereby prevent further rotation of that cover. That portionof the cover 128 is dimensioned so that cover will stop in openedposition when that portion engages the said one sidewall of the hopper,thereby facilitating ready introduction of coins into the hopper.

The numeral 130 generally denotes a gate which is U- shaped in plan. Thegate has a reduced width portion 132 which is vertically-directed andwhich extends downwardly into the hopper and terminates immediatelyadjacent the upper face of the belt 108. That reduced width portioncoacts with the rest of the gate to define shoulders which normally restupon shoulders 141 on the side walls of the hopper. Ears 134 are struckoutwardly from the sides of the gate 130, and those cars are disposedabove the level of pins 136 which are secured to and which extendoutwardly from the walls of the hopper. Pivots 140 are secured to theside walls of the hopper, and those pivots rotatably secure the gate 130to that hopper. Helical extension springs 138 have the upper endsthereof hooked around the ears 134 and have the lower ends thereofhooked around the pins 136. Those springs bias the reduced width portion132 of the gate 130 for movement toward the belt 108, but they can yieldto permit that reduced width portion to move away from that belt.

The numeral 142 generally denotes a second gate for the money-handlingdevice of the present invention. That gate is generally U-shaped inplan; and it has a reduced width portion 144 that extends down betweenthe side walls of the hopper and that extends toward, but stops shortof, the belt 108. Pivots 150 are secured to the side walls of thehopper, and those pivots hold the gate 142 for rotation relative to thathopper. Bars 146 are struck outwardly from the sides of the gate 142,and those ears are disposed above the level of, and a short distancerearwardly of, the pins 112. Helical extension springs 148 have theupper ends thereof hooked around the ears 146 and have the lower endsthereof hooked around the pins 112. Those springs urge the lower edge ofthe reduced width portion 144 of the gate 142 toward the belt 108, butthose springs can yield to permit that reduced width portion to moveaway from that belt. Normally, those springs hold the gate 142 inengagement with shoulders 152 on the side walls of the hopper.

The numerals 160, 162 and 164 denote ejectors which are mounted so theycan rest upon the upper surface of the base 31. The leading edges ofthose ejectors are concave, and those leading edges have radii ofcurvature which are generally complementary to the radii of curvature ofthe arcuate notches 32. If desired, the leading edges of the ejectors160, 162 and 164 could be given different radii of curvature, so thoseleading edges would be exactly complementary to the diameters of thecoins which they were to eject. However, it has been found sufficient toprovide the same radius of curvature for the leading edge of each of theejector slides 160, 162 and 164. In the particular embodiment shown, theejector is intended to eject nickels, the ejector 162 is intended toeject dimes, and the ejector 164 is intended to eject quarters.

Each of the ejectors 160, 162 and 164 has a slot 165 adjacent the rearedge thereof; and that slot is approximately midway between theelongated edges of that ejector. The slots 165 of the ejectors 160, 162and 164 will be in register with the elongated slots 36 in the base 31.However, the slots 165 are much shorter than the slots 36, as shownparticularly by FIGURE 11.

The numerals 166, 168 and 170 denote brackets which are associated withthe ejectors 160, 162 and 164. Each bracket has notches at the rearcorners thereof; and those notches accommodate the shanks of the headedpins 38. As a result, the heads of those pins can overlie the uppersurfacesof those brackets and help hold those brackets in engagementwith the base 31. Also, each bracket has an elongated slot 176 which canbe set in register with one of the elongated slots 36 in base 31, asshown by FIGURE 11. Further, each of the brackets 166, 168 and 170 hasan elongated recess 178 therein which can accommodate and guide anejectorthe recess in bracket 166 accommodating and guiding ejector 160,the recess in bracket 168 accommodating and guiding ejector 162, and therecess in bracket 170 accommodating and guiding ejector 164. Each of thebrackets 166, 168 and 170 has the lower part of the front thereofcut-away to form a discharge opening 174; and those discharge openingsoverlie the adjacent arcuate notches 32. As indicated by FIGURE 1, theupper edges of the discharge openings 174 and the lower front edges ofthe tubes can be made concave; and hence those tubes and dischargeopenings can readily pass bent coins which have convex upper faces thatare generally alined with those edges. Each of the brackets 166, 168 and170 has a circular, horizontally-directed opening therein adjacent thefront thereof; and a rabbet joint surrounds that opening.

The rabbet joint of the bracket 166 can accommodate the lower end of atube 180 for nickels. The rabbet joint of the bracket 168 canaccommodate the lower end of a tube 182 for dimes; and the rabbet jointof the bracket 170 can accommodate the lower end of a tube 184 forquarters. The tubes 180, 182 and 184 are identical except fordiameterthe tube 180 being dimensioned to loosely accommodate nickels,the tube 182 being dimensioned to loosely accommodate dimes, and thetube 184 being dimensioned to loosely accommodate quarters. Each of thetubes 180, 182 and 184 has a verticallydirected slot 186 therein, asshown particularly by FIG- URES 13 and 14; and each of those tubes has asecond 1 1 vertically-directed slot 188, as shown particularly by FIG-URE 14. The slot 186 is located adjacent the upper end of each tube, andthe slot 188 is adjacent the lower end of each tube.

The brackets 166, 168 and 170 will be substantially identical. In fact,those brackets will differ solely in the diameters of the circular,horizontally-directed openings therein, in the sizes of the dischargeopenings 174, and in the sizes of the rabbet joints thereof. Fasteners,such as screws, extend through the front portions of the brackets 166,168 and 170 to help releasably secure those brackets to the base 31.

The numeral 190 denotes funnels which are mounted stop the tubes 180,182 and 184. These funnels are dimensioned so the sides thereof fitsnugly between the paired brackets 42 and 40. Those funnels have rabbetjoints 196 to accommodate the upper ends of the tubes 180, 182 and 184;and those rabbet joints will have different diameters. Each funnel 190has an inclined coinguiding surface 192 and an inclined coin-guidingsurface 194; and those coin-guiding surfaces are vertically spaced andhorizontal-1y displaced. As indicated particularly by FIGURE 23, thelower end of the inclined coin-guiding surface 192 is disposed above thelevel of the lower end of the inclined coin-guiding surface 194.Abutments 198 are formed on the front faces of the funnels 190, andwire-like clamps 200 can engage those abutments to releasably hold thefunnels and the tubes in position adjacent the hoppers. Those clampshave horizontallyspaced arms which abut the confronting faces of thepaired brackets 42 and 40; and those arms have outwardlyextending earswhich extend into openings in those brackets. Those ears and openingsserve as hinges for those clamps. In their normal unstressed conditions,the clamps 200 cannot overlie the abutments 198 onthe funnels 190.However, by being bent slightly, those clamps can have the closed endsthereof set in position above the abutments 198. The restorative forceswithin those clamps will apply forces which incline downwardly and tothe left in FIGURE 3; and those forces will hold the tubes within therabbet joints of the brackets 166, 168 and 170 and will also hold therear edges of the funnels 190 against the leading edges of the sidewalls of the hoppers. When the rear edges of those funnels 190 abut theleading edges of those side walls, the inclined coin-guiding surf-acesof those funnels will be immediately adjacent the leading edges of thebelts 108, as indicated particularly by FIGURE 9.

The numeral 204 denotes brackets which have vertical sides andlano-convex tops; and those brackets are dimensioned to fit looselywithin the openings 44 in the brackets 42, as shown particularly byFIGURES 13 and 14. The brackets 204 have feet which are suit-ablysecured to the base 31 by fasteners, such as screws. A bracket 205,which is identical to the brackets 204, is secured to the base 31adjacent the left-hand side of FIGURE 1. The brackets 204 and 205 haveopenings therein which accommodate bushings 206, as shown particularlyby FIGURE 14; and those bushings rotatably support an elongated shaft207. A C-washer 209 is seated within an annular groove in the shaft 207adjacent one of the bushings 206, as shown particularly by FIGURE 14;and that C-washer will thus limit shifting of that shaft to the right. Asimilar C-washer, not shown, will be seated in an annular groove in thatshaft adjacent another bushing, and that C-Washer will prevent shiftingof that shaft to the left. As a result, the shaft 207 will be free torotate relative to the brackets 204 and 205 but will be kept fromshifting axially relative to those brackets.

The numerals 208, 210 and 212 generally denote coinejecting cams; andthe cam 208 is adjacent the tube180, the cam 210 is adjacent the tube182, and the cam 212 is adjacent the tube 184. Each of those camsincludes a hub 214 which has a radially-extending shoulder an anaxially-extending threaded portion. Notches 216 ax formed in the outerperiphery of that shoulder; and thos notches can accommodate abutments224 on a lobe-forrr ing plate 220. The abutments 224 will preferably bformed by punching them out of the lobe-forming plat 220, becausesockets 225 can then be formed in the op posite face of that plate. Thesockets 225 will be large than, but will be in register with theabutments 224. Th sockets 225 in the plate 220 will accommodate the abutments on a lobe-forming plate 218; and the sockets 22. in the plate 218will accommodate the abutments on lobe-forming plate 222. Thelobe-forming plates 220 218 and 222 will preferably be identical.

The notches 216, the abutments 224, and the socket 225 are spaced apartone hundred and twenty degrees Consequently, the lobe-forming plates220, 218 and 221 can be set to form a one-lobe cam, can be set to formtwolobe cam wherein one lobe trails the other by out hundred and twentyor by two hundred and forty degrees or can be set to form a three-lobecam wherein the lobe. are equally spaced apart. A nut 228 can bethreaded ontt the threaded portion of the hub 214 to hold the abutment;224 on the various lobe-forming plates in the adjacen notches orsockets. However, that nut can be loosener sufilciently, without beingseparated from the threadet portion of the hub 214, to permit the plates218, 220 9.11( 222 to be moved far enough from each other and fron theshoulder on the hub 214 to facilitate rotation of those plates relativeto each other. Such rotation is desirable because it permits the numberof lobes on the cam to be changed without removing that cam from theshaft 207. All that one need do to change the number of lobes on one ofthe cams 208, 210 and 212 is to loosen the nut 228 of that cam, shiftone or more of the lobe-forming plates of that cam axially andcircumferentially, and then retighten that nut. As a result, simple andquick changing of the numbers of lobes on the cams is facilitated.

Where all of the cams 208, 210 and 212 are to be operated as one-lobecams, the plates 218, 220 and 222 of those cams will preferably be setso the lobes of the various cams are either in alinement or are close tobeing in alinement. Such an arrangement will cause all of the coins tobe dispensed at the same time; and this is desirable because it willminimize the likelihood of a patron taking the coins that are dispensedduring the first part of the cycle of operation of the coin-dispensingdevice and of leaving the coins that are dispensed during the rest ofthat cycle.

The numerals 230, 232 and 234 generally denote clutches which aremounted on the shaft 207. The clutch 230 is adjacent the cam 208, theclutch 232 is adjacent the cam 210, and the clutch 234 is adjacent thecam 212. The clutches are identical; and each of them includes a hub 236which has a plate 238 rotatably secured to it and which has a plate 242fixedly secured to it. The plate 238 has an ear 240 that projectsradially outwardly from it, as indicated particularly by FIGURE 13; andthe plate 242 has an car 244 which projects axially from it, as indicated particularly by FIGURE 14. Each clutch also has a sprocket pinion246; and the hubs 236 and the sprocket pinions 246 of the clutches arecoaxial and are mounted on the shaft 207. The hubs 236 of the variousclutches are fixedly secured to the shaft 207 by pins 247, but thesprocket pinions 246 are free to rotate relative to that shaft. Ahelical torsion spring 248 is provided for each clutch; and that springhas one end thereof fixedly seated within a socket in the sprocketpinion 246 and has the other end thereof fixedly seated within anopening in the plate 238, as shown particularly by FIGURE 14.

The unstressed inner diameter of the helical torsion spring 248 issmaller than the diameter of the hub 236; and hence, whenever the spring248 is unstressed, the turns of that spring will bear against that hubwith sufficient force to rotate with that hub. Moreover, the turns ofthat spring will bear against that hub with sufficient force to causethe sprocket pinion 246 and the plate 238 to rotate with that hub.However, that helical torsion spring can yield to enable the turnsthereof to release the force which they tend to apply to the surface ofthe hub 236; and, where that happens, the sprocket pinion 246 and theplate 238 need not rotate with the hub 236.

The numerals 250, 252 and 254 denote sprocket pinions which are securedto the shaft-like projections of the various pulleys 106. The sprocketpinion 250 is in register with the sprocket pinion 246 of the clutch230, the sprocket pinion 252 is in register with the sprocket pinion 246of the clutch 232, and the sprocket pinion 254 is in register with thesprocket pinion 246 of the clutch 234. Sprocket chains 256, 25-8 and260, respectively, connect the sprocket pinions 250, 252 and 254 withthe sprocket pinions 246 of the clutches 230, 232 and 234.

The numeral 262 denotes a cam which is secured to the right-hand end ofthe shaft 207, as that shaft is viewed in FIGURE 1. That cam includesnotched plates 264 and 266; and the notches in those plates are shownparticularly by FIGURE 12. As indicated particularly by FIGURE 14, a pincan pass through the cam 262 and through the shaft 207 to lock that camto that shaft.

A sheet 268 of insulation is disposed between the righthandmost bracket42 in FIGURE 1 and two switches 270 and 272 which are secured to thatbracket. As indicated particularly by FIGURE 2.5, switch 270 is a singlepole, double throw switch, while switch 272 is used as a single pole,single throw switch. Each of the switches 270 and 272 has an elongatedactuating arm with a roller at the free end thereof; and those rollersare dimensioned to extend into the notch in the notched plate 266 of cam262. A further sheet 274 of insulation is disposed between the bracket42 of FIGURE 12 and an empty switch 276. As shown particularly by FIGURE25, that switch is a single pole, double throw switch; and it has anelongated actuator with a roller at the free end thereof.

An elongated shaft 280 is journaled in bushings which are mounted withinopenings in the various brackets 40 and 42; and that shaft is disposedforwardly of, and beiow the level of, the shaft 207. A lever 282 isfixedly mounted on the right-hand end of the shaft 280, as that shaft isviewed in FIGURE 1; and that lever has a roller 283 rotatably mountedthereon. That roller is in register with the notched plate 264, and itis dimensioned to extend into the notch in that plate. The lever 282 hasan offset intermediate the bottom thereof and the shaft 280, and thatoffset disposes the bottom of that lever in register with the roller atthe free end of the actuating arm of the switch 276. As long as thefull-diameter portion of the periphery of the notched plate 264 is inregister with the roller 283, the lever 282 will be in the solid-lineposition in FIGURE 12. However, whenever the notch of the notched plate264 moves into register with the roller 283, the lever 282 will be ableto rotate to the dotted-line position shown 111 FIGURE 12.

The numeral 290 denotes a sprocket pinion which is fixedly secured tothe right-hand end of the shaft 207, as that shaft is viewed inFIGURE 1. A sprocket chain 292 connects the sprocket pinion 290 to asprocket pinion, not shown, on the shaft of electric motor 360 shown inthe circuit diagram of FIGURE 25. That motor is arranged so it willrotate the sprocket pinion 290 and the shaft 207 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG- URE 2.

The numerals 294, 296 and 298 generally denote levelsensing devices; andthose level-sensing devices are associated with the tubes 180, 182 and184 respectively. Each of those level-sensing devices includes a lever300 which is shown in detail in FIGURE 6 and a lever 308 which is shownin detail in FIGURE 5. The lever 300 has an opening which telescopesover the shaft 280, has an car 302, has a feeler 304, has a hub 309*,and has a second car 306. The car 306 has an opening therein;

and that ear and the ear 302 are short. The feeler 304 is long; and ithas a right-angle bend therein which makes the free end of that feelerparallel to the plane of the lever 300. The lever 308 has an elongatedoffset ear 310, and also has a short ear 312 which is struck out of thatlever. A stiff wire-like spring 314 is wound around the hub 309 and hasone end thereof disposed within the opening in the ear 306 while havingthe other end thereof hooked under the car 312 of the lever 308. Thatspring urges the lever 308 for rotation relative to the lever 300 in theclockwise direction in FIGURE 13, but the ear 302 on the lever 300limits such rotation. The spring 314 can yield to permit rotation of thelever 308 in the counter clockwise direction relative to the lever 300.The numeral 316 denotes a helical extension spring which has the lowerend thereof hooked through the opening in the ear 306 on the lever 300and which has the upper end thereof booked through an opening in thebracket 40. The spring 316 biases the level-sensing device for rotationin the clockwise direction in FIGURE 13; but that spring can yield topermit rotation of that level-sensing device in the counter clockwisedirection. While the level-sensing devices 294, 296 and 298 are mountedon the shaft 280', the levers 300 and 308 of those devices can rotateindependently of that shaft.

The shaft 280 has a number of short pins 318 that are disposed withinradially-directed openings in that shaft;

and the outer ends of those pins project outwardly be yond the peripheryof that shaft, as shown particularly by FIGURES 10 and 11.. Emptyfeelers 320 have ears 324 which are in register with, and which canengage, the pins 318. Those feelers have openings therein which areloosely telescoped over portions of the hubs 329 of tappers 328; andthose tappers and those feelers can rotate relative to each other andrelative to the shaft 280. The empty feelers 320 have fingers 322 thatcan extend inwardly through the slots 188 in the tubes 180, 182 and 184.Wire-like springs 326 are wound around the hubs of the tappers 328 andhave the lower ends thereof hooked around the empty feelers 320 whilehaving the upper ends thereof hooked around the tappers 328. One of thetappers is shown particularly by FIGURE 18; and it has an ear 330 whichis disposed in register with the ear 244 on the plate 242 of one of theclutches 230', 232 and 234. The tapper 328 has an opening 331 thereinwhich receives and holds a resilient button 332; and those resilientbuttons are in register with the tubes 180, 182 and 184.

The numeral 334 denotes rods which have the opposite ends thereofdisposed within and held by openings in the paired brackets 40 and 42.Those rods are disposed above the level of, but rearwardly of, the shaft280; and those rods also are disposed above the level of, but forwardlyof, the shaft 207, as shown particularly by FIGURE 13. The numeral 336denotes pivots which extend between, and which have the opposite endsthereof supported within openings in, the paired brackets 40 and 42.Those pivots are disposed above the level of, and are mounted rearwardlyof, the rods 334, as shown particularly by FIGURE 13. Actuators 338 havehubs that are rotatably mounted on the pivots 336; and those actuatorshave rollers 339 thereon which are in register with the lobe-formingplates 218, 220 and 222 of the cams 208, 210 and 212. The actuators 338have ears 340 thereon which extend through the slots 176 in the brackets170, through the slots in the ejectors 160, 162 and 164, and through theslots 36 in the base 31. Each actuator 338 also has a second car 342.Helical extension springs 344 have the forward ends thereof hookedaround the rods 334 and have the other ends thereof hooked around pins345 on the actuators 338. Those springs bias the actuators 338 forrotation in the clockwise direction in FIGURE 10; but those springs canyield to permit rotation of those actuators in the counter clockwisedirection.

The helical torsion springs 248 of the various clutches 230, 232 and 234are wound so the application of holding forces to the right-hand ends ofthose springs, as those springs are viewed in FIGURE 14, will urge thosesprings into even tighter engagement with the hubs 236 of thoseclutches. Those springs also are wound so that if the plates 238 areheld stationary, the hubs 236 of the clutches 238, 232 and 234 willapply forces to those springs which will tend to loosen the engagementsbetween those springs and those hubs. The frictional engagements betweenthe shaft-like projections of pulleys 106 and the bushings 46 and 48,the frictional engagements between the pivot-like projections of thepulleys 90 and the bushings 88, the frictional engagements between thesprocket pinions 246 and the shaft 287, the frictional losses in thesprocket chains 256, 258 and 260, the frictional losses at the eccentricrollers 80 and 82, the resistance of the belts 108 to bending, and theresistance of the springs 79 and 86 to bending will cause the sprocketpinions 246 to tend to remain stationary. This means that those sprocketpinions will apply holding forces to the right-hand ends of the springs248, as those springs are viewed in FIGURE 14; and those holding forceswill force those springs into even tighter engagement with the hubs 236.Such engagement will force those springs, and hence the sprocket pinions246, to rotate with those hubs. As a result, as long as the plates 238are not held stationary, the hubs 236 and the springs 248 will force thesprocket pinions 246 to rotate with the shaft 207. However, if theplates 238 are held stationary, the engagements between the springs 248and the hubs 236 will loosen; and those springs and the sprocket pinions246 will come to rest even though the hubs 236 will continue to rotatewith the shaft 207.

Referring to FIGURE 25, the numerals 362, 364 and 366 denote conductors,and the numerals 368, 370, 371, 373, 376, 384 and 386 denote junctions.The numeral 268 denotes an empty lamp which is mounted on themoney-actuated device with which the coin-dispensing device of FIGURE 1is used. The numeral 374 denotes the coil of a relay; and that coilcontrols relay contacts 378, 380 and 382. The contacts 378 and 380 arenormally open while the contacts 382 are normally closed. The numeral372 denotes contacts which are controlled by a money-checking device; asfor example, a currency detector. The movable contact 372 is normally inengagement with the upper fixed contact 372, but it will respond to theacceptance of an authentic dollar bill to momentarily shift down intoengagement with the lower fixed contact 372. The numeral 388 denotes anelectromagnet which will, as long as it is energized, permit authenticdollar bills to be accepted by the money-checking device but will,whenever it is de-energized, keep that money-checking device fromaccepting a dollar bill.

In the coin-dispensing device of FIGURE 1, one tube and one hopper areprovided for nickels, a second tube and a second hopper are provided fordimes, and a third tube and a third hopper are provided for quarters.This means that if those tubes are to coact to pay out a dollar incoins, during each cycle of operation of that device, more than one coinmust 'be paid out from one or more of those tubes during that cycle ofoperation. To provide optimum capacity for the coin-dispensing device ofFIGURE 1, that device should be provided with enough tubes and hoppersso no more than one coin need be paid out from each tube during eachcycle of operation of that device. For example, if the tubes of thecoindispensing device should pay out three quarters, two dimes, and onenickel during each cycle of operation of that device, that device shouldhave three tubes and hoppers for quarters, two tubes and hoppers fordimes, and one tube and hopper for nickels. With that arrangement oftubes andhoppers, the cams associated with the various tubes could allbe set to act as one-lobe cams. Such an arrangement of tubes and hopperswould provide the coin-dispensing device with ample coin-handlincapacity, because each hopper can hold one thousan coins.

In actual practice, it will be preferable to have enoug tubes andhoppers so each tube will not have to die ense more than one coin duringany cycle of operatio of the coin-dispensing device. However, Whereoptimur coin-holding capacity is not necessary, fewer tubes an hopperscan be use; and, where that is done, one o more tubes will have todispense more than one coi: during a given cycle of operation of thecoin-dispensin, device. For example, if the coin-dispensing device 0FIGURE 1 should dispense one dollar in coins durin, each cycle ofoperation of device, the tube will dis pense one nickel, the tube 182will dispense two dime and the tube 184 will dispense three quartersduring each such cycle. To make that possible, the cam 20E should haveall of the lobe-forming plates 218, 220 am 222 thereof set in theposition occupied by the lobe forming plate 220 in FIGURE 10, the cam210 ShCllIt have the plates 220 and 218 thereof set in the positioroccupied by the lobe-forming plate 220 in FIGURE 1( while thelobe-forming plate 222 of that cam should bt left in the position shownby FIGURE 10, and the lobeforming plates 218,- 220 and 222 of the cam212 shoult be left in the positions shown by FIGURE 10.

In describing the operation of the coin-dispensing device of FIGURES1-25, it will be assumed that the movable contact 372 moves downmomentarily when an authentic dollar bill is accepted, and it willfurther be assumed that the tube 180 is to pay out one nickel, the tube182 is to pay out two dimes, and the tube 184 is to pay out threequarters. In addition, it will be assumed that the tubes and hoppers arefilled with coins.

Prior to the insertion of a dollar bill into the moneychecking device,the empty switch 276 will have the movable contact thereof in theleft-hand position shown by FIGURE 25. Also, the movable contact 372will be in its upper position, the switch 272 will be closed, and themoveable contact of the switch 270 will be in its upper position. Thismeans that the relay coil 374 will be de-energized but that theelectromagnet 388 will be energized-current flowing from conductor 362via the movable and left-hand contacts of empty switch 276, conductor364, the movable and upper contacts of switch 270, and electromagnet 388to conductor 366.

When an authentic dollar bill is accepted, the movable contact 372 willmove downwardly; and current will then flow from conductor 362 via themovable and left-hand contacts of empty switch 276, conductor 364,junction 368, the movable and lower contacts 372, junction 373, relaycoil 374, and junction 376 to the conductor 366. The resultingenergization of relay coil 374 will close relay contacts 378 and 380 andwill open relay contacts 382. The closing of relay contacts 378 willcomplete a holding circuit which extends from conductor 362 via themovable and left-hand contacts of empty switch 276, conductor 364,junction 370, switch 272, now-closed relay contacts 378, junction 373,relay coil 374, and junction 376 to the conductor 366. That holdingcircuit will keep that relay coil energized as long, as the switch 272remains closed.

The opening of the relay contacts 382 will not have any immediateeffect. The closing of the relay contacts 380 will preset an enrgizingcircuit for the motor 360; and that circuit will be completed when themovable contact 372 returns to its upper position. Thereupon, currentwill flow from conductor 362 via the movable and left-hand contacts ofempty switch 276, conductor 364, junction 368, the movable and uppercontacts 372, now-closed relay contacts 380, junction 384, motor 360,and junction 386 to the conductor 366. The motor 360 will then actthrough the sprocket chain 292 to start rotating the sprocket pinion 298and the shaft 207 in the counter clockwise direction in FIGURE 2.

As that shaft so rotates, the cam 262 and the notched plates 264 and 266thereof will rotate in the counter clockwise direction in FIGURE 12.Almost immediately, the notch in the plate 266 will move out of registerwith the roller on the actuating arm of the switch 270; and, thereupon,the movable contact of that switch will shift to its lower position inFIGURE 25. The shifting of that movable contact will interrupt thecircuit of the electromagnet 388; and that is desirable, because it willkeep further authentic dollar bills from being accepted until thecoin-dispensing device of FIGURE 1 has completed its cycle of operation.That shifting of that movable contact can not, at this time, establish arunning circuit for the motor 360, because the relay contacts 382 areopen.

Continued energization of the motor 360 will cause the ears 244 on theplates 242 to move into engagement with the ears 310 on the lever 308.The ears 244 will force the levers 308 to rotate from the solid-lineposition to the dotted-line position in FIGURE 13; and the springs 314will respond to such rotation of the levers 308 to urge the feelers 304of levers 300 into the slots 186 in the tubes 180, 182 and 184. Sincethose tubes are full, the feelers 304 will be held close to the positionshown by solid lines in FIGURE 13.

This means that the ears 302 on the levers 300 will remain in the pathsof the ears 240 on the plates 238; and, in doing so, they will hold theplates 238 stationary. As explained hereinbefore, the springs 248 andthe sprocket pinions 246 will remain stationary when the plates 238 areheld stationary, even though the hubs 236 must continue to rotate withthe shaft 207. All of this is desirable, because it avoids needlessrotation of the sprocket pinions 246, 250, 252 and 254, and thus avoidsall needless movements of the belts 108.

Further rotation of the shaft 207 will cause the lobeforming plates 220of the various cams 208, 210 and 212 to act through the rollers 339 torotate the actuators 338 in the counter clockwise direction in FIGURESuch rotation will enable the ears 340 of those actuators to shift theejectors 160, 162 and 164 rearwardly of the tubes 180, 182 and 184; and,thereupon, a nickel, a dime and a quarter will move downwardly in thosetubes and come to rest on the base 31 adjacent the concave leading edgesof those ejectors. As the lobe-forming plates 220 force the actuators338 to rotate in a counter clockwise direction, the helical extensionsprings 344 will be extended; and, as soon as the outer ends of thelobe-forming plates 220 move beyond the rollers 339 on the actuators338, those springs will force those actuators 338 to return to theposition shown in FIGURE 10. As those actuators return to that position,the ears 340 on those actuators will cause the ejectors 160, 162 and 164to move forwardly and to shift the centers of gravity of the nickel,dime and quarter beyond the arcuate recesses 32 in the base 31.Consequently, one nickel, one dime and one quarter will fall downwardlyand pass to a cup-like receptacle at the exterior of the money-actuateddevice with which the coin-dispensing device of the present invention isused.

Further rotation of the shaft 207 will cause the ears 244 on the plates242 to engage the ears 330 on the tappers 328. The engagements betweenthe ears 244 and 330 will force those tappers to rotate from thesolid-line to the dotted-line position in FIGURE 11. Such rotation ofthose tappers will increase the forces which the springs 326 apply tothe empty feelers 320 to urge the fingers 322 of those feelers into thedotted position shown by FIGURE 11. However, since the notched plate 264will have the circular portion of the periphery thereof in register withthe roller 283 on the lever 282, that notched plate will force the shaft280 to hold the pins 318 in the position shown by FIGURE 10. Those pinswill thus positively keep the fingers 322 of the feelers 320 fromentering the slots 188 in the tubes.

Continued rotation of the shaft 207 will move the cars 244 beyond theears 330 on the tappers 328; and, thereupon, the springs 326 will forcethe resilient buttons 332 of those tappers into engagement with the rearfaces of the tubes 180, 182 and 184. The application of the resultingtaps to those tubes Will not be significant at this time, because thosetubes are full. However, if those tubes were in the process of receivingcoins from the hoppers, those taps would cause coins, which tended tostand on edge or assume leaning positions within the tubes, to falldownwardly and lie flat within those tubes.

Further rotation of the shaft 207 will move the lobeforming plates 222of the cams 210 and 212 into engagement with the rollers 339 of theactuators 338 adjacent the tubes 182 and 184. The lobe-defining plate222 of the cam 208 is in register with the lobe-defining plate 220 ofthat cam; and hence has already passed by the roller 339 on the actuator338 adjacent the tube 180.

The engagements between the lobe-defining plates 222 of the cams 210 and212 with the rollers 339 of the actuators 338 adjacent tubes 182 and 184will shift the ejectors 162 and 164 rearwardly of the tubes 182 and 184;and thereupon a second dime and a second quarter will move down and cometo rest on the base 31. As the lobe-defining plates 222 of the cams 210and 212 move beyond the rollers 339 on the actuators 338 adjacent thetubes 182 and 184, the springs 344 will return those actuators 338 tothe position shown by FIGURE 10; and, as those actuators return to thatposition, they will cause the ejectors 162 and 164 to eject the seconddime and the second quarter. Those coins then pass to the cup-likereceptacle at the exterior of the money-actuated device.

Still further rotation of the shaft 207 will cause the lobe-formingplate 218 of the cam 212 to move into engagement with the roller 339 ofthe actuator 338 adjacent the tube 184. The lobe-defining plates 218 ofthe cams 208 and 210 will be in register with the lobe-defining plates220 of those cams, and will thus already have passed beyond the rollers339 of the actuators adjacent the tubes and 182. Hence no more nickelsor dimes can be paid out during the rest of the cycle of operation ofthe coin-dispensing device of FIGURES 1-25. However, the lobe-formingplate 218 of the cam 212 will cause the actuator 338 adjacent the tube184 to move rearwardly and permit a third quarter to move downwardly andcome to rest on the base 31. As that lobeforming plate moves beyond theroller 339 on the actuator 338 adjacent tube 184, the spring 344 forthat actuator will return that actuator to the position shown in FIGURE10. As that actuator returns to that position it will cause the ejector164 to shift the center of gravity of the third quarter beyond thearcuate notch 32; and, thereupon, that thirdquarter will pass downwardlyto the cup-like receptacle at the exterior of the money-actuated device.

Shortly before the shaft 207 completes one full revolution, the notch ofthe notched plate 266 will move into register with the roller on theactuating arm of the switch 272. That roller will move into that notchand permit the switch 272 to open. The relay coil 374 will becometie-energized; and the relay contacts 378 and 380 will re-open while therelay contacts 382 will reclose. The re-opening of the relay contactswill not be effective at this time; but the re-opening of the relaycontacts 380 will interrupt the starting circuit of the motor 360.However, the interruption of that circuit will not interrupt theoperation of that motor; because current will flow from conductor 362via the movable and left-hand contacts of empty switch 276, conductor364, the movable and lower contacts of switch 270, re-closcd relaycontacts 382, junction 384, motor 360, and junction 386 to the conductor366.

As the motor 360 continues to rotate the shaft 207, the notched plate266 will move the roller on the actuating arm of the switch 272 back toits normal position. As that roller is so moved, the switch 272 will re-

12. A COIN-DISPENSING DEVICE WHICH COMPRISES: (A) A TUBE THAT CAN HOLDCOINS TO BE DISPENSED BY SAID COIN-DISPENSING DEVICE, (B) A HOPPER THATIS ADJACENT SAID TUBE AND THAT CAN HOLD COINS WHICH ARE TO BETRANSFERRED TO SAID TUBE, (C) A SUPPORT THAT HOLDS SAID TUBE AND ALSOHOLDS A PIVOT FOR SAID HOPPER, (D) SAID SUPPORT NORMALLY HOLDING SAIDTUBE CLOSE ENOUGH TO SAID HOPPER TO FORCE COINS ISSUING FROM SAID HOPPERTO PASS TO SAID TUBE, (E) SAID TUBE BEING REMOVABLE, (F) A MOVABLEMEMBER IN SAID HOPPER THAT CAN MOVE COINS, WITHIN SAID HOPPER, TOWARDSAID TUBE, AND (G) A SOURCE OF POWER TO MOVE SAID MOVABLE MEMBER ANDTHEREBY MOVE COINS, WITHIN SAID HOPPER, TOWARD SAID TUBE, (H) SAIDHOPPER BEING ROTATABLE ABOUT SAID PIVOT FROM ITS NORMAL POSITION WHEREINIT CAN HOLD COINS TO A ROTATED POSITION WHEREIN IT CAN RELEASE COINS.